Method for releasing a locking in mobile terminal and mobile terminal using the same

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is related to a method for releasing a locking on a mobile terminal, the method comprising: locking the mobile terminal; generating a locking-release preliminary signal on the locking; creating a locking-release icon based on a generated position of the locking-release preliminary signal; and releasing the locking by selecting the locking-release icon, and to a mobile terminal using the same.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit ofearlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Patent ApplicationNo. 10-2009-0017473, filed on Mar. 2, 2009, the contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a method for releasing a locking in amobile terminal and a mobile terminal using the same.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Generally, terminals can be classified into mobile/portable terminalsand stationary terminals. The mobile terminals can be further classifiedinto handheld terminals and vehicle mount terminals according topossibility of user's direct portability.

As functions of the terminal are diversified, the terminal isimplemented as a multimedia player provided with composite functionssuch as photographing of photos or moving pictures, playback of music ormoving picture files, game play, broadcast reception and the like forexample.

To support and increase the terminal functions, the improvement ofstructural part and/or software part of the terminal may be considered.The recent mobile terminal has been improved to have various functionsas a multimedia player as well as a basic function such as call.

For example, the mobile terminal may download to play multimediacontents files including a VOD from the broadcasting station or theinternet web-site through the wireless communication network fortelephone call.

Furthermore, the mobile terminal may include a short-range wirelesscommunication means such as Bluetooth. The mobile terminal may transmitand receive files through the short-range wireless communication channelbetween terminals having the short-range wireless communication means.

Alternatively, the mobile terminal has a locking function to protect auser's privacy.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a methodfor releasing a locking on a mobile terminal, the method comprising:locking the mobile terminal; generating a locking-release preliminarysignal on the locking; creating a locking-release icon based on agenerated position of the locking-release preliminary signal; andreleasing the locking by selecting the locking-release icon.

According to the one aspect of the present disclosure, the step ofgenerating the locking-release preliminary signal may comprisesdetermining, by a proximity sensor, whether a pointing device hasapproached within a predetermined distance and generating a proximitysignal if the pointing device approaches within the predetermineddistance.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the step ofgenerating the locking-release preliminary signal comprises beingtouched on a first area of a touch sensor, and the step of creating thelocking-release icon based on the generated position of thelocking-release preliminary signal comprises creating thelocking-release icon on a second area near the first area.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, the step ofgenerating the locking-release preliminary signal comprises, beingtouched on a first area of a touch sensor, determining whether the sizeof the first area corresponds to that of a thumb of a human, andcreating the locking-release preliminary signal when the size of thefirst area corresponds to the thumb of the human.

According to still further aspect of the present disclosure, thelocking-release icon is a direction icon, and the step of releasing thelocking by selecting the locking-release icon comprises detecting adragging operation corresponding to a direction indicated by thedirection icon.

According to still further aspect of the present disclosure, the step ofgenerating a locking-release preliminary signal on the locking compriseslimiting a preliminary signal area by user setting where thelocking-release preliminary signal cab be generated, and generating alocking-release preliminary signal on the locking by selecting thepreliminary signal area.

Moreover, another object of the present disclosure is to provide amobile terminal comprising: a locking set-up unit configured to lock themobile terminal; a sensing unit configured to generate a locking-releasepreliminary signal; a display unit configured to display alocking-release icon; and a controller configured to create thelocking-release icon on the display unit based on a generated positionof the locking-release preliminary signal, and to release the locking byselecting the locking-release icon.

According to the one aspect of the present disclosure, the sensing unitcomprises a proximity sensor generating the locking-release preliminarysignal by detecting a pointing device if the pointing device approacheswithin a predetermined distance.

According to the one aspect of the present disclosure, the sensing unitcomprises a touch sensor having a first area where a pointing device istouched, and the controller creates to display the locking-release iconin a second area near the first area if the locking-release preliminarysignal is generated by the touch of the first area.

According to the one aspect of the present disclosure, the sensing unitcomprises a touch sensor having a first area where a pointing device istouched, and the controller creates to display the locking-release iconin a second area near the first area if the size of the first areacorresponds to that of a thumb of a human.

According to the one aspect of the present disclosure, thelocking-release icon is a direction icon, and the controller controls torelease the locking if a drag signal to the direction icon is generated.

According to the one aspect of the present disclosure, the controllercontrols to limit a preliminary area by user setting, where thelocking-release preliminary signal can be generated.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a mobile terminalcomprising: a locking set-up unit configured to lock the mobileterminal; a sensing unit configured to generate a locking-releasepreliminary signal where a pointing device approaches a predetermineddistance; a display unit configured to display a locking-release icon;and a controller configured to create the locking-release icon on thedisplay unit based on a generated position of the locking-releasepreliminary signal, and to release the locking by selecting thelocking-release icon.

According to the one aspect of the present disclosure, the sensing unitcomprises a touch sensor having a first area where a pointing device istouched, and the controller creates to display the locking-release iconin a second area near the first area if the locking-release preliminarysignal is generated by the touch of the first area.

According to the one aspect of the present disclosure, the sensing unitcomprises a touch sensor having a first area where a pointing device istouched, and the controller creates to display the locking-release iconin a second area near the first area if the size of the first areacorresponds to that of a thumb of a human.

According to the one aspect of the present disclosure, thelocking-release icon is a direction icon, and the controller controls torelease the locking if a drag signal to the direction icon is generated.

According to the one aspect of the present disclosure, the controllercontrols to limit a preliminary area by user setting, where thelocking-release preliminary signal can be generated.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the disclosure will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of thedisclosure. The objectives and other advantages of the disclosure may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present disclosure areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the disclosure as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the disclosure andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of thedisclosure. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining a method for releasing a lockingin the mobile terminal according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining a method using a proximity sensorin the method for releasing a locking in the mobile terminal accordingto one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining a method using a touch sensor inthe method for releasing a locking in the mobile terminal according toone embodiment of the present disclosure

FIG. 5 illustrates image diagrams of the mobile terminal where themethod of using the proximity sensor in the method for releasing alocking in the mobile terminal is applied.

FIG. 6 illustrates image diagrams of the mobile terminal where themethod of using the touch sensor in the method for releasing a lockingin the mobile terminal is applied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numberswill be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.The suffixes ‘module’ and ‘unit’ for the elements used in the followingdescription are given or used in common by considering facilitation inwriting this disclosure only but fail to have meanings or rolesdiscriminated from each other.

First of all, mobile terminals described in this disclosure can includea mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcastterminal, a PDA (personal digital assistant), a PMP (portable multimediaplayer), a navigation system and the like.

Except for a case applicable to a mobile terminal only, it is apparentto those skilled in the art that the configurations according to anembodiment described in this disclosure is applicable to such astationary terminal as a digital TV, a desktop computer and the like.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile terminal 100 according to one embodimentof the present disclosure includes a wireless communication unit 110, anA/V (audio/video) input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit140, an output unit 150, a memory 160, an interface unit 170, acontroller 180, a power supply unit 190, a locking set-up unit 200 andthe like. FIG. 1 shows the mobile terminal 100 having variouscomponents, but it is understood that implementation of all of theillustrated components is not a requirement. Greater or fewer componentsmay alternatively be implemented.

In the following description, the above elements of the mobile terminal100 are explained in sequence.

First of all, the wireless communication unit 110 typically includes oneor more components which permit wireless communication between themobile terminal 100 and a wireless communication system or networkwithin which the mobile terminal 100 is located. For instance, thewireless communication unit 110 can include a broadcast receiving module111, a mobile communication module 112, a wireless internet module 113,a short-range communication module 114, a position-location module 115and the like.

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives a broadcast signal and/orbroadcast associated information from an external broadcast managingserver via a broadcast channel.

The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel and a terrestrialchannel.

The broadcast managing server generally refers to a server whichgenerates and transmits a broadcast signal and/or broadcast associatedinformation or a server which is provided with a previously generatedbroadcast signal and/or broadcast associated information and thentransmits the provided signal or information to a terminal. Thebroadcast signal may be implemented as a TV broadcast signal, a radiobroadcast signal, and a data broadcast signal, among others. If desired,the broadcast signal may further include a broadcast signal combinedwith a TV or radio broadcast signal.

The broadcast associated information includes information associatedwith a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, a broadcast serviceprovider, etc. And, the broadcast associated information can be providedvia a mobile communication network. In this case, the broadcastassociated information can be received by the mobile communicationmodule 112.

The broadcast associated information can be implemented in variousforms. For instance, broadcast associated information may include anelectronic program guide (EPG) of digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB)and electronic service guide (ESG) of digital video broadcast-handheld(DVB-H).

The broadcast receiving module 111 may be configured to receivebroadcast signals transmitted from various types of broadcast systems.By nonlimiting example, such broadcasting systems include digitalmultimedia broadcasting-terrestrial (DMB-T), digital multimediabroadcasting-satellite (DMB-S), digital video broadcast-handheld(DVB-H), the data broadcasting system known as media forward link only(MediaFLO®) and integrated services digital broadcast-terrestrial(ISDB-T). Optionally, the broadcast receiving module 111 can beconfigured suitably for other broadcasting systems as well as theabove-explained digital broadcasting systems.

The broadcast signal and/or broadcast associated information received bythe broadcast receiving module 111 may be stored in a suitable device,such as a memory 160.

The mobile communication module 112 transmits/receives wireless signalsto/from one or more network entities (e.g., base station, externalterminal, server, etc.). Such wireless signals may represent audio,video, and data signals according to text/multimedia messagetransceivings, among others.

The wireless internet module 113 supports Internet access for the mobileterminal 100. This module may be internally or externally coupled to themobile terminal 100. In this case, the wireless Internet technology caninclude WLAN (Wireless LAN) (Wi-Fi), Wibro (Wireless broadband), Wimax(World Interoperability for Microwave Access), HSDPA (High SpeedDownlink Packet Access), etc.

The short-range communication module 114 facilitates relativelyshort-range communications. Suitable technologies for implementing thismodule include radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared dataassociation (IrDA), ultra-wideband (UWB), as well as the networkingtechnologies commonly referred to as Bluetooth and ZigBee, to name afew.

The position-location module 115 identifies or otherwise obtains thelocation of the mobile terminal 100. If desired, this module may beimplemented with a global positioning system (GPS) module.

Referring to FIG. 1, the audio/video (A/V) input unit 120 is configuredto provide audio or video signal inputs to the mobile terminal 100. Asshown, the A/V input unit 120 includes a camera 121 and a microphone122. The camera 121 receives and processes image frames of stillpictures or video, which are obtained by an image sensor in a video callmode or a photographing mode. And, the processed image frames can bedisplayed on the display 151.

The image frames processed by the camera 121 can be stored in the memory160 or can be externally transmitted via the wireless communication unit110. Optionally, at least two cameras 121 can be provided to the mobileterminal 100 according to environment of usage.

The microphone 122 receives an external audio signal while the portabledevice is in a particular mode, such as phone call mode, recording modeand voice recognition mode. This audio signal is processed and convertedinto electric audio data. The processed audio data is transformed into aformat transmittable to a mobile communication base station via themobile communication module 112 in case of a call mode. The microphone122 typically includes assorted noise removing algorithms to removenoise generated in the course of receiving the external audio signal.

The user input unit 130 generates input data responsive to usermanipulation of an associated input device or devices. Examples of suchdevices include a keypad, a dome switch, a touchpad (e.g., staticpressure/capacitance), a jog wheel, a jog switch, etc.

The sensing unit 140 provides sensing signals for controlling operationsof the mobile terminal 100 using status measurements of various aspectsof the mobile terminal. For instance, the sensing unit 140 may detect anopen/close status of the mobile terminal 100, relative positioning ofcomponents (e.g., a display and keypad) of the mobile terminal 100, aposition change of the mobile terminal 100 or a component of the mobileterminal 100, a presence or absence of user contact with the mobileterminal 100, orientation or acceleration/deceleration of the mobileterminal 100. As an example, consider the mobile terminal 100 beingconfigured as a slide-type mobile terminal. In this configuration, thesensing unit 140 may sense whether a sliding portion of the mobileterminal is open or closed. Other examples include the sensing unit 140sensing the presence or absence of power provided by the power supply190, the presence or absence of a coupling or other connection betweenthe interface unit 170 and an external device. And, the sensing unit 140can include a proximity sensor 141 and a touch sensor 142.

The output unit 150 generates outputs relevant to senses of sight,hearing, touch and the like. And, the output unit 150 includes thedisplay 151, an audio output module 152, an alarm unit 153, and a hapticmodule 154 and the like.

The display 151 is typically implemented to visually display (output)information associated with the mobile terminal 100. For instance, ifthe mobile terminal is operated in a phone call mode, the display willgenerally provide a user interface (UI) or a graphical user interface(GUI) which includes information associated with placing, conducting,and terminating a phone call. As another example, if the mobile terminal100 is in a video call mode or a photographing mode, the display 151 mayadditionally or alternatively display images which are associated withthese modes, the UI or the GUI.

The display module 151 may be implemented using known displaytechnologies including, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), athin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), an organiclight-emitting diode display (OLED), a flexible display and athree-dimensional (3-D) display. The mobile terminal 100 may include oneor more of such displays.

Some of the above displays can be implemented in a transparent oroptical transmittive type, which can be named a transparent display. Asa representative example for the transparent display, there is a TOLED(transparent OLED) or the like. A rear configuration of the display 151can be implemented in the optical transmittive type as well. In thisconfiguration, a user is able to see an object in rear of a terminalbody via an area occupied by the display 151 of the terminal body.

At least two displays 151 can be provided to the mobile terminal 100 inaccordance with the implemented configuration of the mobile terminal100. For instance, a plurality of displays can be arranged on a singleface of the mobile terminal 100 in a manner of being spaced apart fromeach other or being built in one body. Alternatively, a plurality ofdisplays can be arranged on different faces of the mobile terminal 100.

In a case that the display 151 and a sensor for detecting a touch action(hereinafter called ‘touch sensor’) configures a mutual layer structure(hereinafter called ‘touch screen’), it is able to use the display 151as an input device as well as an output device. In this case, the touchsensor 142 can be configured as a touch film, a touch sheet, a touchpador the like.

The touch sensor 142 can be configured to convert a pressure applied toa specific portion of the display 151 or a variation of a capacitancegenerated from a specific portion of the display 151 to an electricinput signal. Moreover, the touch sensor 142 may be configured to detecta pressure of a touch as well as a touched position or size.Alternatively, a separate pressure senses may be applied to detectpressure of the touch.

If a touch input is given to the touch sensor 142, signal(s)corresponding to the touch is transferred to a touch controller. Thetouch controller processes the signal(s) and then transfers theprocessed signal(s) to the controller 180. Therefore, the controller 180is able to determine whether a prescribed portion of the display 151 istouched.

Referring to FIG. 1, a proximity sensor 141 can be provided to aninternal area of the mobile terminal 100 enclosed by the touch screen oraround the touch screen. The proximity sensor 141 is a sensor thatdetects a presence or non-presence of an object approaching a prescribeddetecting surface or an object existing around the proximity sensor 141using an electromagnetic field strength or infrared ray withoutmechanical contact. Hence, the proximity sensor 141 has longerdurability than that of a contact type sensor and also has wider utilitythan that of the contact type sensor.

The proximity sensor 141 can include one of a transmittive photoelectricsensor, a direct reflective photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflectivephotoelectric sensor, a radio frequency oscillation proximity sensor, anelectrostatic capacity proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, aninfrared proximity sensor and the like. In a case that the touch screenincludes the electrostatic capacity proximity sensor, it is configuredto detect the proximity of a pointer using a variation of electric fieldaccording to the proximity of the pointer. In this case, the touchscreen (touch sensor) can be classified as the proximity sensor 141.

In the following description, for clarity, an action that a pointerapproaches without contacting with the touch screen to be recognized aslocated on the touch screen is named ‘proximity touch’. And, an actionthat a pointer actually touches the touch screen is named ‘contacttouch’. The meaning of the position on the touch screenproximity-touched by the pointer defines a position of the pointer whichvertically opposes the touch screen when the pointer performs theproximity touch.

The proximity sensor 141 detects a proximity touch and a proximity touchpattern (e.g., a proximity touch distance, a proximity touch duration, aproximity touch position, a proximity touch shift state, etc.). And,information corresponding to the detected proximity touch action and thedetected proximity touch pattern can be outputted to the touch screen.

The audio output module 152 functions in various modes including acall-receiving mode, a call-placing mode, a recording mode, a voicerecognition mode, a broadcast reception mode and the like to outputaudio data which is received from the wireless communication unit 110 oris stored in the memory 160. During operation, the audio output module152 outputs an audio signal relating to a particular function (e.g.,call received, message received, etc.). The audio output module 152 isoften implemented using one or more speakers, buzzers, other audioproducing devices, and combinations thereof.

The alarm unit 153 outputs a signal for announcing an occurrence of aparticular event associated with the mobile terminal 100. Typical eventsinclude a call received event, a message received event and a touchinput received event. The alarm unit 153 can output a signal forannouncing the event occurrence by way of vibration as well as video oraudio signal. The video or audio signal can be outputted via the display151 or the audio output unit 152. Hence, the display 151 or the audiooutput module 152 can be regarded as a part of the alarm unit 153.

The haptic module 154 generates various tactile effects that can besensed by a user. Vibration is a representative one of the tactileeffects generated by the haptic module 154. Strength and pattern of thevibration generated by the haptic module 154 are controllable. Forinstance, different vibrations can be outputted in a manner of beingsynthesized together or can be outputted in sequence.

The haptic module 154 is able to generate various tactile effects aswell as the vibrations. For instance, the haptic module 154 generates aneffect attributed to the arrangement of pins vertically moving against acontact skin surface, an effect attributed to the injection/suctionpower of air through an injection/suction hole, an effect attributed toa skim over a skin surface, an effect attributed to a contact with anelectrode, an effect attributed to a electrostatic force, an effectattributed to representation of warm/cold sense using an endothermic orexothermic device and the like.

The haptic module 154 can be implemented to enable a user to sense atactile effect through a muscle sense of finger, arm or the like as wellas to transfer the tactile effect through a direct contact. Optionally,at least two haptic modules 154 can be provided to the mobile terminal100 in accordance with the corresponding configuration type of themobile terminal 100.

The memory 160 is generally used to store programs for operating thecontroller. Moreover, the memory 160 may temporarily store input/outputdata such as phonebook data, massage data, still image, and movingimage. In addition, data for various patterns of vibration and/or soundoutputted in case of a touch input to the touch screen can be stored inthe memory 160.

The memory 160 may be implemented using any type or combination ofsuitable volatile and non-volatile memories or storage devices includinghard disk, random access memory (RAM), static random access memory(SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM),erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), programmable read-onlymemory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic memory, flash memory,magnetic or optical disk, multimedia card micro type memory, card-typememory (e.g., SD memory, XD memory, etc.), or other similar memory ordata storage device. And, the mobile terminal 100 is able to operate inassociation with a web storage for performing a storage function of thememory 160 on Internet.

The interface unit 170 is often implemented to couple the mobileterminal 100 with external devices. The interface unit 170 receives datafrom the external devices or is supplied with the power and thentransfers the data or power to respective elements of the mobileterminal 100 or enables data within the mobile terminal 100 to betransferred to the external devices. The interface unit 170 may beconfigured using a wired/wireless headset port, an external chargerport, a wired/wireless data port, a memory card port, a port forcoupling to a device having an identity module, audio input/outputports, video input/output ports, an earphone port and/or the like.

The identity module is a chip for storing various kinds of informationfor authenticating a use authority of the mobile terminal 100 and caninclude User Identify Module (UIM), Subscriber Identify Module (SIM),Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) and/or the like. A devicehaving an identity module (hereinafter called ‘identity device’) can bemanufactured as a smart card. Therefore, the identity device isconnectible to the mobile terminal 100 via a relevant port.

When the mobile terminal 110 is connected to an external cradle, theinterface unit 170 becomes a passage for supplying the mobile terminal100 with a power from the cradle or a passage for delivering variouscommand signals inputted from the cradle by a user to the mobileterminal 100. Each of the various command signals inputted from thecradle or the power can operate as a signal enabling the mobile terminal100 to recognize if it is correctly loaded in the cradle.

The controller 180 typically controls the overall operations of themobile terminal 100. For example, the controller 180 performs thecontrol and processing associated with voice calls, data communications,video calls, etc. The controller 180 may include a multimedia module 181that provides multimedia playback. The multimedia module 181 may beconfigured as part of the controller 180, or implemented as a separatecomponent. In addition, the controller 180 has a time counting function.

Moreover, the controller 180 is able to perform a pattern recognizingprocess for recognizing a writing input or a picture drawing inputcarried out on the touch screen as characters or images, respectively.

The power supply unit 190 provides a power required by variouscomponents of the mobile terminal 100. The power may be internal power,external power, or a combination thereof.

A locking set-up unit 200 is an element for protecting the user'sprivacy. The user may set the locking function on the mobile terminal bymeans of the locking set-up unit. In addition, the locking function maybe so set up as to prevent the mobile terminal from operating bytouching the touch sensor 142 without user's intention. It is essentialto use a mobile terminal equipped an unlocking function to release thelocking.

Various embodiments described herein may be implemented in acomputer-readable medium using, for example, computer software,hardware, or some combinations thereof. For hardware implementation, theembodiments described herein may be implemented using one or moreapplications of specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signalprocessors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs),programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays(FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors,other electronic units designed to perform the functions describedherein, or a selective combination thereof. Such embodiments may be alsoimplemented by the controller 180.

For software implementation, the embodiments described herein may beimplemented with separate software modules, such as procedures andfunctions, each of which performs one or more of the functions andoperations described herein. The software codes can be implemented witha software application written in any suitable programming language andmay be stored in memory such as the memory 160, and executed by acontroller or processor, such as the controller 180.

In the following description, the method for releasing a locking in themobile terminal will be explained by referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4. FIG.2 is a flow chart for explaining a method for releasing a locking in themobile terminal according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining a method using a proximity sensorin the method for releasing a locking in the mobile terminal accordingto one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 4 is a flow chartfor explaining a method using a touch sensor in the method for releasinga locking in the mobile terminal according to one embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 2, a user may set a locking on the mobile terminal byusing a user input unit 130 and a locking set-up unit 200 (S1).Alternatively, a controller 180 automatically may set a locking on themobile terminal after lapse of a predetermined time in order to preventthe mobile terminal from operating by touching a touch sensor 142without user's intention. In a state that the mobile terminal is locked,the user may generate a locking-release preliminary signal through asensing unit 140 (S2). the generation of the locking-release preliminaryfrom the sensing unit 140 will be explained with referring to FIG. 3 andFIG. 4. On the other hand, the locking-release preliminary signaldefines a signal which may change to a state of the mobile terminalwhere a locking-release signal can be received. Namely, a locking stateis a state where the mobile terminal may not receive any signal exceptfor the locking-release preliminary signal, and a locking-release readystate is a state where a menu screen of the mobile terminal 100 isdisplayed on the display unit 151 by receiving the locking-releasepreliminary signal. Again, when the locking-release preliminary signalis generated, a position where the locking-release preliminary signal isgenerated is determined (S3). A locking-release icon is displayed on thedisplay unit 151 based on the generated position (S4). In case that theuser selects the locking-release icon, the locking of the mobileterminal 100 is released (S5, S6). In the following description, theprocess for generating the locking-release preliminary signal throughthe sensing unit will be explained with referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining a method using a proximity sensorin the method for releasing the locking in the mobile terminal accordingto one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3., thesensing unit 140 of the mobile terminal 100 detects whether the pointingdevice such as a stylus pen and a finger is approached (S21). At thistime, the proximity sensor may be used as a sensing unit. Besides theproximity sensor, any sensor capable of sensing a distance may be used.For example, an optical sensor may be used. If the pointing deviceapproaches within a predetermined distance, the sensing unit 140generates the locking-release preliminary signal. Accordingly, thelocking-release icon is created on the display unit 151 (S22, S23). Asshown in FIG. 2, the locking-release icon is placed near the generatedposition of the locking-release preliminary signal.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining a method using a touch sensor inthe method for releasing the locking in the mobile terminal according toone embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4., thesensing unit 140 of the mobile terminal 100 detects whether the pointingdevice such as a stylus pen and a finger is touched on a first area ofthe display unit (S31). Namely, the touch sensor 141 is used as asensing unit 140. If the pointing device is touched on the first area,the locking-release preliminary signal is generated. Accordingly, thelocking-release icon is created on a second area (S32, S33). The secondarea is placed near the first area. In this state, if thelocking-release icon is selected, the locking of the mobile terminal isreleased.

On the other hand, in a case that the pointing device is a finger, thecontroller 180 may check whether the pointing device is a finger togenerate the locking-release preliminary signal. Namely, when the firstarea is touched on the touch sensor 142, the controller 180 determineswhether the first area has a corresponding size with as that of a user'sfinger. When the size of the first area has a same or similar size ofthe finger, the locking-release preliminary signal is generated.

Furthermore, the preliminary signal area may be limited in order toprevent the sensing unit 140 of the mobile terminal 100 from generatingthe locking-release preliminary signal without user's intention. In thiscase, the touch signal in the limited area is confirmed as alocking-release preliminary signal. In the following description,specific embodiment of aforementioned method for releasing the lockingwill be described using the FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.

FIG. 5. illustrates image diagrams of the mobile terminal where themethod of using the proximity sensor in the method for releasing thelocking in the mobile terminal is applied and FIG. 6 illustrates imagediagrams of the mobile terminal where the method of using the touchsensor in the method for releasing the locking in the mobile terminal isapplied.

As shown in FIG. 5., the proximity sensor detects whether the pointingdevice 200 such as a finger approaches within a predetermined distance dfrom the mobile terminal 100 (referring to FIG. 5A). If a distancebetween the pointing device 200 and the mobile terminal 100 is shorterthan the predetermined distance d, the locking-release icon 210 isgenerated near the pointing device 200 such as a finger (referring toFIG. 5B). In this state, if the user selects the locking-release icon(referring to FIG. 5C), the locking is released and the wall paperscreen 300 is displayed on the display unit 151 (referring to FIG. 5D).According to this embodiment, the user can release the locking of mobileterminal with one gesture.

FIGS. 6A-6D are image diagrams of the mobile terminal where the methodof using the touch sensor in the method for releasing the locking in themobile terminal is applied.

Referring to FIGS. 6A-6D, the touch sensor (142) detects whether apointing device 200 (e.g., a finger) has touched a display unit 151 ofthe mobile terminal 100 (referring to FIG. 6A), whereby an icon 220 of apredetermined direction, for example, is generated near a positiontouched by the pointing device 200 (referring to FIG. 6B). Under thiscircumstance, in a case where a user performs a dragging operation to adirection indicated by the icon 220 of the predetermined direction(referring to FIG. 6C), the locking is released and a wall paper screen300 is displayed on the display unit 151 of the mobile terminal(referring to FIG. 6D). According to the aforementioned exemplaryembodiment, the user can easily release the locking of the mobileterminal.

As aforementioned, the mobile terminal having the short cut code formoving the web page is not limited to the constitution and method of theembodiments. It should be understood that the person in the art mayeasily modify and alter the present disclosure by selectively combiningthe entire or part of the each embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for unlocking a mobile terminal, themethod comprising: operating the mobile terminal in a locked state,wherein a touchscreen display of the mobile terminal comprises aplurality of locations at which a touch input can be received; receivinga first touch input at a first location of the touchscreen display,wherein the first location is one of the plurality of locations, andwherein, prior to the first touch input, no locking-release icon isdisplayed at the first location of the touchscreen display of the mobileterminal; displaying the locking-release icon on the touchscreen displayin response to the first touch input, wherein a displayed location ofthe locking-release icon corresponds with the first location of thefirst touch input such that the displayed location of thelocking-release icon corresponds with at least a portion of the firstlocation at which the first touch input is received, and wherein thefirst location is located at a distance from the displayed location ofthe locking-release icon; causing the mobile terminal to transition fromthe locked state to an unlocked state in response to a second touchinput at the touchscreen display, the second touch input selecting thelocking-release icon; and displaying on the touchscreen display, inresponse to the transition to the unlocked state, a menu comprising aplurality of icons which are individually associated with one of aplurality of different applications operable by the mobile terminal. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the first location is not-predeterminedby the mobile terminal.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the firsttouch input is received at any of a plurality of locations on thetouchscreen display; and displaying the locking-release icon on thetouchscreen display at any of a corresponding plurality of locations ofthe touchscreen display in response to the first touch input.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the locking-release icon comprises an arrowindicating a direction for the second touch input.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein causing the mobile terminal to transition comprises:causing the mobile terminal to transition from the locked state to theunlocked state when the second touch input is received at thetouchscreen display in a direction that corresponds with a directionindicated by the arrow.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the firsttouch input and the second touch input each include a proximity touchinput.
 7. A mobile terminal, comprising: a touchscreen displayconfigured to receive a first touch input at a first location, whereinthe touchscreen display comprises a plurality of locations at which atouch input can be received, wherein the first location is one of theplurality of locations, and wherein, prior to the first touch input, nolocking-release icon is displayed at the first location of thetouchscreen display of the mobile terminal; a controller configured to:cause displaying the locking-release icon on the touchscreen display inresponse to the first touch input, wherein a displayed location of thelocking-release icon corresponds with the first location of the firsttouch input such that the displayed location of the locking-release iconcorresponds with at least a portion of the first location at which thefirst touch input is received, and wherein the first location is locatedat a distance from the displayed location of the locking-release icon;cause the mobile terminal to transition from a locked state to anunlocked state in response to a second touch input at the touchscreendisplay, the second touch input selecting the locking-release icon; andcause displaying on the touchscreen display, in response to thetransition to the unlocked state, a menu comprising a plurality of iconswhich are individually associated with one of a plurality of differentapplications operable by the mobile terminal.
 8. The mobile terminal ofclaim 7, wherein the first location is not-predetermined by the mobileterminal.
 9. A method for unlocking a mobile terminal, the methodcomprising: operating the mobile terminal in a locked state; receiving atouch input at a first location of the touchscreen display of the mobileterminal; displaying a locking-release icon based on the first locationof the touchscreen display of the mobile terminal, wherein a displayedlocation of the locking-release icon corresponds with the first locationof the touch input such that the displayed location of thelocking-release icon corresponds with at least a portion of the firstlocation at which the touch input is received, and wherein the firstlocation is located at a distance from the displayed location of thelocking-release icon; causing the mobile terminal to transition from thelocked state to an unlocked state in response to a further touch inputat the touchscreen display, the further touch input extending from thefirst location to a second location; and displaying on the touchscreendisplay, in response to the transition to the unlocked state, a menucomprising a plurality of icons.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein aportion of the locking-release icon is displayed at the first locationof the touchscreen.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the firstlocation is an arbitrary point on the touch screen.
 12. The method ofclaim 9, wherein, prior to the touch input, no locking-release icon isdisplayed on the touchscreen display of the mobile terminal.
 13. Themethod of claim 9, wherein, prior to the touch input, there is nopredetermined location for the locking-release icon.
 14. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the further touch input includes a dragging inputreceived at the touchscreen display and the second location is distantfrom the first location.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the furthertouch input includes a dragging input to a predetermined direction. 16.The method of claim 9, wherein the touch input includes a proximitytouch input.
 17. The method of claim 9, wherein the second location islocated at a direction distancing from the first location.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, wherein the direction distancing from the firstlocation is an arbitrary direction.
 19. The method of claim 17, whereinthe direction distancing from the first location is a predetermineddirection.
 20. The method of claim 9, wherein the locking-release iconcomprises an arrow indicating a direction for the further touch input.21. The method of claim 20, wherein causing the mobile terminal totransition comprises causing the mobile terminal to transition from thelocked state to the unlocked state when the further touch input isreceived on the touchscreen display in a direction that corresponds witha direction indicated by the arrow.
 22. A method for unlocking a mobileterminal, the method comprising: operating the mobile terminal in alocked state of the mobile terminal, wherein the touchscreen displaycomprises a plurality of locations at which a touch input can bereceived; receiving a first touch input at a first location of thetouchscreen display of the mobile terminal, wherein the first locationis one of the plurality of locations; displaying a locking-release iconon the touchscreen display in response to the first touch input, whereina displayed location of the locking-release icon corresponds with thefirst location of the first touch input such that the displayed locationof the locking-release icon corresponds with at least a portion of thefirst location at which the first touch input is received, and whereinthe first location is located at a distance from the displayed locationof the locking-release icon; causing the mobile terminal to transitionfrom the locked state to an unlocked state in response to a second touchinput at the touchscreen display, the second touch input selecting thelocking-release icon; and displaying on the touchscreen display, inresponse to the transition to the unlocked state, a menu comprising aplurality of icons.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein a portion of thelocking- release icon is displayed at the first location of thetouchscreen.
 24. The method of claim 22, wherein, prior to the firsttouch input, no locking-release icon is displayed on the touchscreendisplay of the mobile terminal.
 25. The method of claim 22, wherein,prior to the first touch input, there is no predetermined location forthe locking-release icon.
 26. The method of claim 22, wherein the firsttouch input includes proximity touch input.
 27. A method for unlocking amobile terminal, the method comprising: receiving a touch input at alocation of a touchscreen display of the mobile terminal, wherein thelocation is any of a plurality of different locations, and wherein themobile terminal is operated in a locked state; displaying at least oneicon on the touchscreen display in response to the touch input, the atleast one icon being newly displayed on the touchscreen displaycorresponding to the touch input, wherein each of the at least one iconindicates a direction for a drag input, and wherein a displayed locationof the at least one icon is based on the location of the touch input;receiving the drag input beginning from the location at which the touchinput is received, the drag input being received toward a direction thatcorresponds with the direction indicated by one of the at least oneicon; and causing the mobile terminal to transition from the lockedstate to an unlocked state in response to the drag input.
 28. The methodof claim 27, wherein each of the at least one icon comprises an arrowindicating a direction for the drag input.
 29. A mobile terminalcomprising: a touchscreen display configured to receive a touch input ata location of the touchscreen display of the mobile terminal and toreceive a drag input beginning from the location at which the touchinput is received, wherein the location is any of a plurality ofdifferent locations, and wherein the mobile terminal is operated in alocked state; and a controller configured to: cause the touchscreendisplay to display at least one icon in response to the touch input, theat least one icon being newly displayed on the touchscreen displaycorresponding to the touch input, wherein each of the at least one iconindicates a direction for the drag input, wherein the drag input isreceived toward a direction that corresponds with the directionindicated by one of the at least one icon, and wherein a displayedlocation of the at least one icon is based on the location of the touchinput; and cause the mobile terminal to transition from the locked stateto an unlocked state in response to the drag input.
 30. The mobileterminal of claim 29, wherein each of the at least one icon comprises anarrow indicating a direction for the drag input.